Mara Dyer knows she isn’t crazy. She knows that she can kill with her mind, and that Noah can heal with his. Mara also knows that somehow, Jude is not a hallucination. He is alive. Unfortunately, convincing her family and doctors that she’s not unstable and doesn’t need to be hospitalised isn’t easy. The only person who actually believes her is Noah. But being with Noah is dangerous and Mara is in constant fear that she might hurt him. She needs to learn how to control her power, and fast! Together, Mara and Noah must try and figure out exactly how Jude survived when the asylum collapsed, and how he knows so much about her strange ability…before anyone else ends up dead!

My Thoughts:

Why did I pick up this book?

I read the first book not too far back last year somewhere in September and it was the one of my favorites for that year and I though I could not wait to get into its sequel, I still did not manage to read it until recently. And yeap, as expected the second was much more better than the first and I cant wait to discuss it with you all.

The Plot:

So it continues from where book 1 left us and Mara was now in the hospital, sedated, and her dad was still recuperating from the accident. So due to the bizarre police report that Mara Dyer made, Dr. Kells came in and suggested that Mara goes to Horizons and see if she improves. Of course Mara would not want to do that as that would mean not seeing Noah and she also dont want to stay in Horizons for who knows how long and away from her parents. So, after some discussion, Mara will go to Horizons in the day and home in the evening. And stuff gets intense when she meets Phoebe another patient at Horizons. OMG Phoebe just creeps me put. She puts on a facade of an innocent girl but inside, she’s outright creepy. I really liked how the story went and progressed. It picked up speed and though I was dying to know what was happening, sadly exams and submission deadlines came in and I dont really have time to find out what happens. I really like the pacing and the conclusion was a huge bang. It was not a cliffhanger but at the end of this book questions were answered and I can’t wait to see Mara in action again.

The Characters:

We were introduced to people who are like Mara and they seem pretty sane to me. Except for Phoebe. I really loved how Michelle Hodkin had a personality for each character and I really feel so much more and I was really into the book. The great characters were what made the plot stand out even more. I could not ask for better characters even Jude is a total criminal with no essence of humanity in him at all. And Phoebe, the attention seeking girlwho is being used by the real villain, I’m just blown by how creepy and crazy she was. And Mara, she’s still hanging it there despite what’s she gone through and though she breaks down, she doesn’t give up. And of course with Noah beside her, she’s even stronger.

The writing:

I felt that the writing style here is much more intense because of the nature of the plot and I really love how the language flows. It is very coherent and it was so easy and fun to read and understand the message the author is trying to bring across. I guess this is another element that makes this book sooo sooo enjoyable and I’m just surprised at how it was better than the first.

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her-East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

My Thoughts:

Why did I pick up this book?

I have heard people talking about this series since last year and the reviews I read were mainly positive. I mentioned in previous reviews before that I’m wary of those over-hyped books as I had bad experiences with some of them. I’m glad that this book did not disappoint me mainly because my expectations weren’t that high despite the hype.

The Plot:

The book is set in America and a few years after young children started dying due to a widespread disease however, some children did not die of it. And children who were suspected of carrying the disease were brought to camps to be quarantined. However, we find out that that’s not true as the government were actually afraid of the children who weren’t infected or immune to the disease. So Ruby, she’s was sent to the camp at 10 and she lied to one of the scientists’ that she was a Green. The children were classified according to their abilities. So the greens were the most normal among all the other colors. So in fact Ruby is an Orange meaning she has paranormal powers which was luckily dormant during her stay in the camp. One day, someone from the inside helped her escape and she claims to be against the government and there to help her. They were about to bring Ruby to their place but Ruby escaped from them and decided to join a gang of other kids who were on the run. Although they said that they do not have the resources to keep her with them, the group allowed her to stay and follow them. These kids were on a quest to find the Slip Kid hoping to contact their family and also to find solace. During their search for the Slip Kid, Ruby learnt more about herself and the world outside.

I felt that it was kind of slow-paced but it was essential that the world-building has a stable foundation before moving on. I kind of got bored after a while, but soon enough there was action going on and things started to move pretty quickly. I find the pacing really comfortable as there are breaks in-between fast-paced chapters and I dont feel that the author is rushing through the plot nor is it too slow to bore me. I really want to find out more about the disease and why is the government so afraid of the kids who were immune to it.

The Characters:

We have got great characters in this book and I really love Ruby’s and Liam’s conversations as well as Chubs. Their conversation really brought me closer to them and I felt more connected to them and could relate to them more. Then there’s Zu, she reminds me of Rue from the Hunger Games 9I’m not sure why). When Ruby and Zu were trying out clothes they really look like sisters playing dress-up which was really sweet. Although Zu does not talk, I really admire the special way they communicate with each other.

The writing:

It was pretty easy to get accustomed to and it was a breeze for me while reading. I wished there were alternating POVs as I felt that it would give the story a much more in-depth and fuller plot.

What do I look for in the sequel?

I wish to learn more about the children’s abilities and how is it related to their immunity to the disease. I also wish to know more about what the government is really plotting and why are they afraid of the kids with immunity to the disease.

No one performs on the circus trapeze like 16-year-old Rémy Brunel. But Rémy also leads another life, prowling through the backstreets of Victorian London as a jewel thief. When she is forced to steal one of the world’s most valuable diamonds, she uncovers a world of treachery and fiendish plots.

Meanwhile, young detective Thaddeus Rec is determined to find the jewel and clear his name. Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Rémy that he needs to save?

I received this ARC from Netgalley and this my honest review of it

My Thoughts:

The Plot:

I find it pretty okay but not full enough. I also felt that the length of this stand-alone was a little too short for a mystery book. I expected it to be at least 400 pages long. I did not really have high hopes for this book as I have not read any of Sharon Gosling’s book and it’s an ARC so there are bound to be flaws in it. Overall, it was a light read. I felt that the suspense did not really build up to the point which made me want to know what will happen next. I guess that was the downside of this book. I felt that more events could be added and more discoveries. I felt that the discoveries made were done too easily. That’s not how mystery book normally goes. The characters will first suspect and when they investigate further, they end up with dead-ends. So I guess that was what was lacking in this book.

The Characters:

I felt that they were pretty flat and I did not feel connected to them at all. They are pretty much two-dimensional most of the time throughout the whole book. I did not love or hate them and just felt okay with them. It was more of a meh feeling.

The writing:

I kind of like how Sharon Gosling writes descriptions. They are pretty original and it kind of gave me the ambience of the Victorian era. They matched pretty well and that got me settled into the world pretty quickly.

Please do share with me if you have read the published version of this book if there are improvements to the plot.

DESTRUCTIONThe Year of Souls begins with an earthquake—an alarming rumble from deep within the earth—and it’s only the first of greater dangers to come. The Range caldera is preparing to erupt. Ana knows that as Soul Night approaches, everything near Heart will be at risk.

FLIGHTAna’s exile is frightening, but it may also be fortuitous, especially if she can convince her friends to flee Heart and Range with her. They’ll go north, seeking answers and allies to stop Janan’s ascension. And with any luck, the newsouls will be safe from harm’s reach.

CHOICEThe oldsouls might have forgotten the choice they made to give themselves limitless lifetimes, but Ana knows the true cost of reincarnation. What she doesn’t know is whether she’ll have the chance to finish this one sweet life with Sam, especially if she returns to Heart to stop Janan once and for all.

With gorgeous romance and thrilling action, the final book in the Incarnate trilogy offers a brilliant conclusion to the compelling questions of this fascinating world, where one new girl is the key to the lives of millions.

My Thoughts:

Why did I pick this book:

I read the first and second book in January this year and I want to finish the series. As I am participating in the 2014 Series Challenge, I want to clear as many unfinished series as possible. I reserved this book from the library as I wanted to read it ASAP as I did not have any reading plans then.

The Plot:

It was the best of all three books as there’s full of action and there were disputes between characters. And most of the time when I was reading I was like this:

I could not wait to see what happens next to the extend that I skipped several lines to find out what happen.

It was very well paced and it was a total roller coaster. Like in the previous book, Ana and Sam fought and they did too in this book and it was much worse which makes the whole atmosphere really tense. I like how Jodi Meadows added the voices of the Sylph and the Dragons into the plot. It was like Ana was the only one who could communicate with them. And that leads me to my first question which went unanswered. Is it because Ana’s a newsoul or is she really the only one who could do so? When it comes to the final book, I’m mostly looking out for closure. Yes it ended well and Janan is no longer in the picture and so is reincarnation. However, we did not go into detail about the year. In the three books there is the Year of Souls and a few others which were mentioned. There was also Soul Night which was not explained. I kind of felt frustrated as I’m pretty sure the different Years had a meaning behind them something like the Chinese zodiac. As this series revolves around Souls, I think Soul Night is a festival that the people of the Heart celebrates and I was hoping for an explanation in the final book. I was kind of disappointed as this played a role in the world building.

The Characters:

I loved the interaction between the characters particularly in this book. I felt that they were more three dimensional in this book especially the non-main ones like Stef and the others. Their involvement in this book was much more instead of the two protagonist. I usually have hate towards antagonists but this time round its extreme. I really hated Janan to the core as he’s someone whose got power all over in his head. There’s not a single bit of humanity or moral in him at all.

The Writing:

I hardly had difficulty reading the book and it was such a breeze. There weren’t too many flowery words used and neither do I come across parts that beat around the bush. I prefer books which cut straight to the point as the suspense is already killing me. By beating about the bush, I would say its torture.

Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic’s most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots – a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic. But can they trust them or have they unwittingly become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?

My Thoughts:

Why did I pick this book:

I read Legend back in 2013 and I really enjoyed it. As I am participating in the 2014 Series Challenge, I want to clear as many unfinished series as possible. I saw it was available in the Library and decided to pick it up.

The Plot:

It was much more exciting and thrilling than the first. The first already sort of left me “breathless” the second also did the same to me. In this book, I felt more attached to the characters and my reaction towards their actions and people’s actions towards them was stronger. Like the first, it is written in alternating POVs and im Legend the chapter’s on June’s POV was written in gold and this time, it’s Day’s turn and its in blue. I guess that was what made me want to know what’s going to happen next and increased my reading speed. We learn more about the Patriots and their activities as Day is now working with them. As for June, she learns more about the current Elector who is now Anden (son of deceased Elector). She finds out that Anden was not what she and the people of the Republic imagined him as. It ended with a bittersweet ending and that made me want to read Champion soon.

The Characters:

June and Day grew a lot in this installment. Their relationship and trust was also put to the test. When June was working undercover and playing her role in front of Anden, she did not have direct communication with Day at all. As she knows he’s watching her through the cameras, she used signals to hint to Day that Anden is not what they think he is. Also the realization Tess has a crush on Day although in Day’s eyes she’s his sister. That was when I was against how Tess’ actions towards Day and her intentions behind them. Then there’s Anden’s interest in June. This is all going to get pretty tangled I guess in the next book.

The Writing:

I really loved Marie Lu’s writing. It was short and sweet. I seldom had to reread lines and that was one of the main reasons I enjoyed reading. I don’t really enjoy books that had me to reread lines as it disrupts the flow of my reading. I’ll be looking forward to Marie Lu’s new series The Young Elites which would be published this year. Can’t wait. I’m fangirling over it now and currently following Marie Lu’s Pinterest board for the book.

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark- haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery… who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

My Thoughts:

Why did I pick this book:

First of all, I was attracted by its cover which I saw on Goodreads and when I read the blurb, it seems like the kind of book I like to read. Yes I love gothic stuff. I also read the reviews and it seems like a book that I would enjoy and has been pinning to read it until I saw it in the library and I decided to pick it up.

The Plot:

Well I must say, it was spooky and gothic and dark. I like it. However, I did not like how things turn out when Brodie (River and Neely’s half brother) came into the picture and the situation was worse than the current one. I felt that the events could be spaced out to allow character to have the opportunity to react to it. Since its going to be a series, I don’t see why is there a need to introduce Brodie to us. I felt that I have yet to know Neely and in came a new character. I felt that it was rather rushed and not properly spaced out. That’s so far the only flaw. The whole paranormal thing really spooked me out. I also like how Violet’s life is somehow linked with her grandmother’s past. With the events happening in town, Violet went to search for her Grandmother’s letters if she left any for Violet to find and she found out that her Grandmother had relations with Jack’s grandfather and also River’s grandfather (if I’m not wrong). I find that whole part really cool and I’m looking forward to more of such stuff in the sequels.

The Characters:

The book could have been better if we had stronger characters and I mean Violet and River. No wonder they are perfect match. They simply loose their strength when the other is present. I could not stand it and that is a big no-no. I got tired of them and that hindered my reading. Fine I accept that in the beginning the characters have not grown and the events will help them grow. But no, there isn’t any character development for either of them. Except that they found each other. I guess they did not even have love in their relationship. I guess its infatuation. For both of them. One example is despite River telling lies, she still forgives him. I mean he lied so many times, he’s got a motive up there. She’s just clouded by her own perception of him.

If that’s what you call character development. Then there’s Sunshine. She’s a flashy girl. She practically throws herself at almost any guy she sees. There’s Luke, Violet’s twin brother. He’s a loose guy, he’s horny and his thoughts were most of the time voiced out. It’s quite sad, they only thing I knew about them at the end (which was obviously stated) that their interest in each other is for real and not to make Violet jealous. Ughh the characters just fit too perfectly for each other. So we have the weaklings and the loose people. I feel so bad shamming them, but that’s all I read.

No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.

But Juliette has plans on her own.

After a lifetime without freedom, she’s finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she’d lost forever.

My Thoughts:

Why did I pick this book:

It was mentioned, raved and hyped and I want to see what caused the rave and hype. And since I’m always procrastinating my books and one of the Goodreads groups that I’m in is doing a group read for this book and I signed myself up for it. Overall I’m quite satisfied with the book and I’m so glad I do not have to classify it under “over-rated hypedbooks” . So let’s get on with the discussion and my thoughts of the book itself.

The Plot:

Let’s talk about the good stuff. It was action-packed. However, we knew little of the world outside. What was happening with the Reestablishment in control. Since our heroine is locked up in a mental institution, news of the world outside don’t really get to her. Her parents regard her as an abomination. However, she does not seem that bored inside her cell as she has a notebook with her and she pens down her thoughts. And then Adam came in as her cell mate. She avoided him at first but starts explaining how things goes in the mental institution. As days past, she slowly starts to open up as Adam told him more about himself though Juliette was not that interested. One day, guards came in a she was brought out of her cell and she met Warner. Warner explained his intentions to her and said that her powers were a gift and would be of great help for him. During her days there, Warner used all kinds of methods to get Juliette to surrender and join hands with him. Meanwhile, Adam as one of the guards under Warner came into Juliette’s room and talked to her in the bathroom as there were no cameras. At the point on time I was confused whose side should I root for Adam whose nice to Juliette or the power-hungry Warner who turns out not to be a villain somehow. However, one of the problems I had were the intimacy between Juliette and Adam. Yes, it’s okay if you have a few but the amount of such scenes in the book turned out to be unnecessary in my opinion. Their intimacy was like lovers who were separated for a very long time and finally they were together again and they were afraid to loose each other again.

The Characters:

Juliette. Juliette. Juliette. I don’t know how to describe her. Her character has two extremes like hot and cold. One moment she’s on one side of the spectrum the next she’s one the other side. I must say her mood swings are major. She was also impulsive in terms of her actions and such actions were self-destructive as well. For example she kissed Warner so that she can take his gun from his pocket and shoot him so that she can save Adam. Though she hates him to the core, she was still willing to kiss him. And I was like this:

Then we have Kenji (sounds Japanese or really a Japanese name) he’s a guy who likes to speaks his mind and hence he’s blunt with his words and most of the time it contains “shit”. I find him an interesting character and I like him more than Adam. There’s also James he reminds me of Russell from Up. Which I have no idea but that’s my image of him in my mind.

And there’s Warner the villain for now. He seems to have problems with his father and it looks like he wants to prove something to his father and for that he needs Juliette. What if all this hunt for Juliette was just some father-son who has too much ego in them to give in.

The Writing:

The writing was beautiful however, I find it rather exaggerating as such description was not necessary then. One example when Tahereh Mafi described Juliette’s inability to talk at that moment and expressed in a way saying it felt as if there were cotton balls stuck in my throat. There are times I must say the writing was beautiful and appropriate. Like these two instances:

Yep and the striking out of words/ sentences. It was very unique and that’s what made me like this book.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Would I continue with the series:

Yes, there are so many unanswered questions and one of them is the Reestablishment. Then there is the Omega Point. Is the Omega Point an uprising against the Reestablishment. How did Juliette’s superpowers came about and her immunity to nuclear. And what about the other’s who posses powers like Juliette?

The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: Flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York’s glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star….

Cordelia is searching for the father she’s never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined — and more dangerous. It’s a life anyone would kill for…and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is ­Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia’s brother, Charlie. But Astrid’s perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the ­illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls’ fortunes will rise and fall — together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of THE LUXE comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the

Jazz Age.

My Thoughts:

What made me pick this book:

I’m currently obsessed with anything from the Roaring 20s (1920s) and I’m just intrigued by that age and there aren’t many YA books about this age and when I did some research, I came to this book. And yes, the cover is gorgeous and so is the dress the model is wearing.

The Plot:

It was like I was watching some tv series as the plot is more leaned towards the drama side. In the beginning, everything seems smooth-sailing and already I’m liking Cordelia more than Letty. As we were introduced to our third main girl, Astrid, I preferred her over the other two. The smooth sailing part started to bore me and I wanted some action and before I knew it, things started rolling downhill for each girl and from there they learned lessons. Overall, its a very nice fluffy chick-lit read and I want to get to know more about how the lives of these three girls will get intertwined together.

The Characters:

One thing that turned me off was Letty’s innocence. Probably it was because she was raised in the suburbs and she did not encounter the tricks and ploy of men. She’s not very far sighted and normally see things on the surface and does not prod deeper. She also has the mentality that her chance of becoming famous is rather high and I think she’s delusional as success is never easy. As for Cordelia, she’s more reserved and seems to be more aware of her surroundings. As for Astrid, I was able to relate to her more and her personality is somewhat similar to Serena from Gossip Girl. She’s buubly and friendly and loyal to her friends. However, I must applaud Cordelia for daring to face Thom and get even with him, though she did not execute the whole thing, i would still say bravo for warning him that she will get even with him. She’s suck a kick-ass and her firing a gun, was really unexpected of her. And her escape was really one of its kind.In terms of character development it is more on Cordelia then Letty then Cordelia.

The Writing:

This is my first time reading Anna Godbersen’s book and I would say I’m not used to the writing style she uses and it was hard to understand in the beginning. It was then I realized she does not explicitly state which character’s POV is she writing in now. After a few chapters, I get accustomed to it. It is something like the Pretty Little Liars series. However, in this case, we can have all three girls’ POVs in one chapter and I find that a job well done by Anna Godbersen as she was able to string them in such a manner where its almost seamless and so far I have not encountered any hiccups when we switch from one girl to the other.

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About Me

Lil' Book Owl is a blog owned by Belinda (18) who loves reading. I wanted to share my thoughts on the books I read and I did some research on how people blog about books/ write their reviews before starting my own one. A the beginning stages, the blog went through various changes and I have decided to settle down with this. I started blogging back in feb/mar 2013 and up till today, I did not regret my decision.